Anyone hoping to cash in on Friday’s federal stimulus money which allowed for a 15 percent discount on energy-saving appliances had to show up to stores early — very early.

The Illinois Retail Merchants Association confirmed this morning that the $3 million in federal money to support energy-efficient appliances was gone in about two hours. The group shut the program down at 10:30 a.m.

“This made Black Friday look like a Tuesday in July,” Illinois Retail Merchants Association President David F. Vite said in a statement. “Sales have never been so brisk in Illinois.” Get the full story »

From the Chicago Sun-Times | Using federal stimulus money, Illinois will again offer residents 15 percent rebates on new Energy Star-rated major appliances, such as freezers and diswashers, up to $250 per item.

The program starts at 8 a.m. Sept 24 and is first-come, first-serve until the money runs out likely within the day. Shoppers in the first rebate program in April claimed $6.2 million in rebates within 11 hours. Get the full story>>